I've used a lot of packs, though not in a military setting. I'd actually be interested in looking at how military gear design has been affected by a hyper competitive and innovation-driven civilian outdoor gear industry... but that's another story.
I can't think of any pack that doesn't use a hip belt, nor would I want one. The ability to carry weight on your hips adds a lot of stability in dodgy terrain (by letting you carry the weight low on your body instead of high) and lets you keep the pack snug to your body instead of sloshing back and forth. Weight on the hips reduces stress on your abs that comes from countering the tendency of weight on the shoulders to pull you backwards... it's just a more efficient way to carry a load. Modern packs are extremely adjustable and you should be able to compensate for the short torso by manipulating the straps.
If you insist, you might be able to find a pack that has a removable hip belt, and take it off. I have a mid-sized pack (Deuter Futura 38) with a hip belt that looks like it can be removed, but I haven't tried to do it.
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